This is a Picture

This is a picture that caught my eye the other day.

This is a picture that speaks the proverbial thousand words. Words like joy. Freedom. Partnership. Mutuality. Respect.

This is a picture of Reverend Anne Robertson, a pastor in the United Methodist Church, anointing the head of Sean O’Malley, Cardinal of Boston. O’Malley invited Reverend Robertson to offer him a reaffirmation of his baptism (story here) after he had done the same for her.

This is a picture of male privilege being joyfully overturned. It’s a picture of a man laying down his power, willingly submitting himself to the leadership of a woman. It’s a picture of Tertullian being challenged.

This is a picture of vision. Of a future that we could one day see. What if one day it becomes as normal for women to bless men as it is for men to bless women today?